Explain the Gonadotropic Hormones (GTH):
There are two gonadotropic hormones which regulate gonadal functions. They are follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Both of the hormones are secreted from gonadotrops of anterior pituitary gland. FSH contains 204 amino acids and is a glycoprotein. It has distinct functions in case of males and females. In males, FSH stimulates growth of the germinal epithelium in the testes, thus promoting the development of sperm. While in case of females, it initiates growth of the follicles in the ovaries.
It also helps to cause the ovaries to secrete oestrogen, one of the female sex hormones. LH in females joins with FSH to cause oestrogen and progesterone secretion. It also causes the follicle to rupture, allowing the ovum to pass into abdominal cavity and then through a fallopian tube. LH also helps in the formation of corpus luteurn (hence the name luteinizing hormone) which secretes progesterone. In the males, LH causes the leydig cells of testes to secrete testosterone, the male sex hormone. Hence, through its gonadotropic hormones, anterior pituitary controls the secretion of male and female sex hormones (gonadal hormones).